
lA^ (WtM^ 



Entered according to Act of CongreSv^, 

in the j^ear 1885, by 

HENRY MORGAN BRIGGS, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress; 

Wat^hington, D. C. 



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INTRODUCTION- 



ShauD O'Neil was gamekeeper to Wolfe Tone Galdar- 
rick,^, Esq., a wealthy Irish sjentlemaD, whose county 
seat was in Ballinalea, VVickiow County. The game- 
keeper lived in the Lodge at the northern gates with 
his wife and two children. Rory, a harum-scarum 
dare devil, known the country round as the "Omadhaun," 
and Mimi, a beautiful dark-eyed girleen, called the 
rose of Ballinalea, who was betrothed to Dan Cassarn, 
owner of a neighboring Smithy. Lord Dunraven, of 
London, and Major Raleigh, of her Majesty's service, 
Wolfe Tone Galdarrick's guests for the hunting season. 
Captain Montagu, who had fallen desperately in love 
with Mimi, was stationed at Wicklow. Father Mahone, 
the Parish priest of Ballinalea, was guardian of Molly, 
his niece, an orphan child, who was in lov^ with Rory 
O'Neil. Lanty Kilfoyl was a vagabond poacher. 

Sergeant Lance, of Captain Montagu's command. 

Phaidrig was a celebrated piper. 



-^$>§<^>§<^— 



THE IRISH DRAMA IN THREE ACTS 



ENTITLED 



THE OMADHADN, 

— -n — 



\i^^ 



Copyrighted 18- 






THE OMADHAUN 



l'n", I AV 



Whipper-in to 
Kory, "the omadhaun", ^ AVolfe Tone Galdarrick's 

pack. 
Captain Montagu, 

Young English officer, stationed at Wicklow. 
Wolfe Tone Galdarrick Esq., 

The life of every steeple-chase, or fox-hunt. 
Lord Dunraven, 

His guest for the hunting season. 
Father Mahone, 

The parish priest at Ballinalea. 
Dan Cassarn, 

Mirai's lover, owner of a smithy at Kathnew. 
Shaun O'Xeil, 

Gamekeeper to Wolfe Tone Galdarrick Esq. 
Lanty Kilfoyl, a poacher. 
Major Raleigh, of Dublin. 
Sergeant Lance, of the 41st. 
Phaidrig, a piper. 
Minii, "the rose of Ballinalea". 
Molly, Father Mahone's neice, in love with Eory. 
Mrs. O'Xeil, Shaun's wife, Mimi and Kury's mother. 

Soldiers, peasants, &c, &c. 



^ 



2 B XT y S 3 



Acr I. — Scene 1. — Galdavrick Estate, Ballinalea. The home 
of the O'Neils — the visit. Captain Montagu lies in ambush. 
Mimi the songstress. Montagu wears his welcome out. Dan 
to the fore — the blow. Mrs. U'Xeii's dilemma. The game- 
keeper. Squire Galdarrick escorting Lord Dunraven over 
the estate. Rory goes fox hunting. 

Scene 2. — The exterior of Father Mahone's. Molly in fairy- 
hmd-the surprise. Rory's frolicks. The priest and the Omad- 
haun. Off for the wedding. 

Scene 3. — Green Center. Montagu's rage. Lanty Kilfoyl un- 
folds a plot. Mischief brewing. Au revoir. 
Scene 4. — Tiie home of the gamekeeper. The merrymaking. 
Titled guests. The barn door jig. The red coats. The arrest. 

Act II. — Scene 1. — The exterior of Father Mahone's. Rory 
makes a strange visit. The signal. A moonlight ride. 
Scene 2. — Green Center. Montagu is in high glee. Lanty 
Kilfoyl finds a four leaf shamrock. 

Scene 3. — Wicklow Prison. Dan's soliloquy. The priest's 
visit. The transformation. How Dan gave leg bail. 
Scene 4. — The ruins on St. George's Channel. Mimi and 
Shaun on the look out. Sighted. Shaun makes a mistake. 
Rory plays soldier and comes to grief. 

Act III. — Scene 1. — Devil's Glen. Early dawn. The fugi- 
tive. Lanty Kilfoyl spies some game. 

Scene 2. — Green Center. Rory on a furlough. Montagu is 
(lumfounded at the escape of Dan. Lanty sells his game. 
Rory catches a poacher. 

:'5cene 3. — Th? exterior of Father Mahone's. Major Raleigh 
decides to sift matters 

Scene 4. — Galdarrick Estate. The Council. Lanty Kilfoyl 
:vels intr) hoi; water. Tiio priest's warning. Lanty's confess- 
1 )n. Dan a prisoner. Major Raleigh rights a wrong, ('aptain 
Montagu under arrest. Rory disowns the Omadhau . 



C0STUMC8. 

RoRY. — Red wig. Rlack hunting cap, green liunting coat, 
drab breeches, fair top boots, hunter's horn and whip. 
Capt. Montagt'. — Dashing young officer. Black hair and 
moustache. Full regulation uniform,- cap, red coat, sword. 
Wolfe Tone Galdarrick Esq. — Short and portly. Half- 
bald wig. Broad silk liat, green coat. Ruffled shirt, buff 
waist-coat, drab breeches. Fob chain. Riding boots, whip. 
Lord Dunraven. — Blond wig, moustache, and side whisk- 
ers. Black hat, tapering crown. 8nuff colored English great 
coat, with cape. Scarlet hunting coat, fawn breeches, walk- 
ing boots. Lace tie, single eye-glass and cane. 
Father Mahone. — Tall. Long white wig. Broad hat. 
Black vestments. White neckcloth. Leggings. 
Act I. — Scene 4 — Long black cloak, crucifix. 
Dan Cassarn. — Tall young rustic. Black Glengarry hat. 
Swallowtail coat and knee-breeches of black corduroy. 
Black stockings, low shoes. Act I. — Scene L — Fawn-color- 
ed Cathmore cloak, with cape. 

Shaun O'Neil. — Half-bald red wig. Fringe of whiskers. 
Drab corduroy hunting coat and breeches, leather leggings. 
Lanty Kilfoyl. — Grey cap. Sleeveless jacket of tan lea- 
ther. Grey woollen shirt, knee-breeches and brogans. 
Major Raleigh. — Side whiskers. Fatigue cap, red coat. 
Sergeant Lance — Tall. Full regulation uniform. 
PHAIDRIG.-Red wig, battered hat. Dress of grey homespun. 
MiMi. — Type of French-Irish beauty. Dark hair and eyes. 
Act L — Scene I. — White poke bonnet. White dress, sack 
bodice and slippers. Act 1. — Scene 4. — Bridal gown. 
Act II. — Scene 4. — Royal blue cloak with hood. 
Act III. — Scene 4. — Wiiite muslin dress. 
Molly. — A blonde. White poke bonnet. White muslin 
dress. Slippers. Light drab cape. 

Mrs. O'Neil. — White frilled cap. Cream shoulder sliawl. 
Light brown dress, with red quilted bottom. 



1 



PROPCJ^TiCS. 



Act First. — Cut flowers and sickle for Minii. Cut flowers 
for Molly. Basket with packages for Mrs. O'Neil. Gun for 
Shaun. Branches of holly for lodge. Spikes for hiding. 
Horse for Rory, 



Act Second, — Package and letter for Molly. 
Captain. Two horses. 



Purse for 



Act Third. — Hand-cuffs for Dan. Shillalys for Peasants. 



Exterior of Lodge. / View of t-state, 



Tree with 

O 

circular seat. 




Scene. — Galdarrick Estate Ballinalea. Lodge. Tree with 
circular seat, massive gates, high stone wall to continue on 
scene. 



Exterior of House. 

^ o 

3 2 

o. r 

Tree with 
circular seat. 



Landscape. 



Scene. — The exterior of Father Mahones'. House with land- 
scape backing. Tree with circular seat. 



^oa^ 



vSign 
post, 



'%o^^ 



Scene. — Green Centre. To represent crossroads with sign- 
post. 




Window with curtain. 



I Door. I 



Doorl 



Scene. — The Home of the Gamekeeper. Interior of lodge. 
Flowers in window, and room decorated with holly. 




Scene. — Wicklow Prison. The interior of a cell. To re- 
volve and show The Kuins on St. Georges Channel. 




St. (jreorges Channel. 
Cliff. 



Scene. — The Ruins on St. Georges Channel. 
Kuins of Castle on cliff overlooking the channel. 



High cliffs. 



O 
Chasm. 



High cliffs. 



Lower cliffs. 



Scene. — Devils Glen, High cliffs with cascade for backing. 
Chasm, and lower cliffs below. 



THE OMADHAUN, 



ACT I. 

Scene. Galdarrick Estate, Ballinalea. Exterior of lodge, with 
view of the estate in the background. High stone wall, with 
massive iron gates, left; large tree with circular seat, right. 
{Enter Capt. Montagu through gateway, smoking, crosses over 
to lodge, looks in window, passes over and sits down on circular 
seat; picks up book from seat, and looking at cover reads.) 

Capt. Beadle's collection of gems. {Opens book and reads) 
Home Sweet Home. 
Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. 
That reads well! But there is no one at home. ( Glancing to- 
wards lodge.) Truly what fools we mortals are. Here am I 
far from home amidst Irish bogs, chasing every will-o'the- 
wisp in the shape of a pretty face. Now if Mimi's father 
was a Duke or Lord, or even a Squire, there would still be 
a tinge of romance about it, were we to take French leave. 
But to think with such a face and voice she is only a game- 
keepers daughter. What would my aristocratic mother say, 
and fair cousin Marguerite, or my comrades in arms, were I 
to sail to England with such a bride. {2\(.rns leaves of book 
and reads) 

Full many a gem of purest ray serene. 
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear. 
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen; 
And waste it's sweetness on the desert air. 



Here I am talking of manyir.g a maid whom I met but once, 
and then only by chance while hunting with the Squire. 
( Turns leaves of book and reads) 
'Tis years since last we met 

And we may not meet again, 
I have struggled to forget, 

But that struggle was in vain. 
F.)r her voice lives on the breeze, 

And her spirit comes at will, 
In the midnight on the seas 

Her bright smile haunts me still. 
[Closes book, rises and glances ojf r.) 
By Mars! I swear I'm in luck, she is coming this way with 
her apron full of flowers, she must have paid the gardener 
an early visit. But I must not startle her, I'll lie iti ambush 
and make sure of a captive. {Passes round tree and stands 
unperceived.) 

Enter MiMi. B. Stops near tree with her apron full of f lowers 
and stands looking at a rose she holds in her hand. 

MiMi. {Sings entire so7ig) 'Tis the last rose of Summer. 

{lurns and utters a little startled cry as she sees Capt.) 
Capt. Ten thousand pardons. Corning in as I did un- 
perceived I thought I had strayed into some fairy dell. I 
hope I dont intrude. 

MiMi. I am only the gamekeeper's daughter sir. The 
master is at the Manor-house. There's not a more hospit- 
able Squire in all the county. 

Capt. Thanks! but were I to tell you that I came over 
the Rathnew road not to call on the Squire but to see a co- 
lleen called the rose of Ballinalea what would you say? 



3 

MiMi. I would tell an English < fficer called Captain 
Montagu that by going back past Green Centre he could 
save an Irish mile, for there's nayther welcome nor good 
wishes for yez here, Captain Montagu ! 

Capt. You are inhospitable my colleen dhas, is this the 
way you entertain me, when I have taken so much pains to 
come? 

MiMl. Shure an' ye moight have spared yerself the 
throuble sir, it's well enough yez ought to know that I 
niver had a likin' for yer company. 

Capt, You are flattering, up(m my word. Now tell me 
pray, Miss Mimi, why I am so distasteful to you. 

MiMi. Because yez are widout mercy to the poor, be- 
cause yez come in loike a thief where yez get no welcome, 
because — because I hate you ! 

Capt. Oh! fareer gairh ! as you Irish say — you hate me 
my pretty colleen, and I — why I love y( u to distraction ! 
You hate me; well now, that is hard. If I were to ask you 
to marry me would you say no ? 

MiMi. I marry you ! I'd throw myself from Castle Rock 
into the river before I'd marry you. Do yez not know this 
is my weddin' day, that before the sun has gone to rest I'll 
be Dan Cassarn's bride. 

Capt. Dan Cassarn's bride ! {Growing excited) child, this 
is madness; do you not understand what 1 could offer you, 
wealth, station, all that heart could wish, in a grand old 
Kng'ish home. 

MiMi. My Dan is the noblest lad that lives! not a foine 
gintleman that I'll allow, but honest, an' brave, an' thrue, 
an' what colleen could ask for more? 



Capt. I'm afraid you are building castles in the air. 

MiMi. Where else could we build ? You English have 
robbed us of all our land. 

Capt. You wild, pretty, tormenting young thing ! I 
must have a kiss for that ! I swear I will have it Mimi ! 

{Springs towards her.) 

MiMi. {Retreating from him) I'd die first ! 
(Capt. pursues and catches her around the waist, laughing softly 
as he struggles with her. MiMi darts her head downward and 
bites the hand that holds her c&ptive. Oapt. loosens his gra»p 

and raises his hand as if to strike her.) 

Capt. You — {Enter Dan Cassarn, through gateway, l. 
unperceived hy Capt.) you young wolf-cub — (Dan catches 
his uplifted arm and swings him around facing him.) 

Dan. Sthand about misther ! {Strikes Capt., who falls.) 
(Dan clasps Mimi in his arms) Blur-an'-ages ! to think he'd 
rise the hand agin ye, the black viper ! I could kill him 
where he lies ! Git up ye scoundrel ! (Capt. rises to his feet) 
git up an' depart, quick, in God's name, lest I take yer loife 
for the shameful insult ye've put upon my colleen dhus, go 
now, (Capt. crosses and pauses at gate.) but moind yez, an* 
howld yersilf in readiness, it's a thaste av me fhist ye' 11 be 
thrated to ivery toime our two paths crosses, ye miserable 
black rap o' the divil, to come around here insultin a d:i- 
cent girl wid yer avil woys. 

Capt. Ten thousand curses be upon you ! — {Sluthing his 
clenched hand at him) you low-born Irish cur — you traitor — 
you miserable agitator of the common herd — I know your 
ways better than you think, and, as God hears, I swear I 
shaH yet have you transported! lExit through Gates, l. 



MlMl. Dan ma dheelish, his words they bring fear an' 
sorrow to me heart , that he may work ye harm. 

Dan. Chance he may. Sure I would av sthrurk him 
were he the Lord Lieutenant. {Kiascs her and points ii.pu-dr'L) 
Our bridal morn is dawning fjiir, 
With blushes in the sky. 
Sure an' God knows it's a happy heart I cany widin me, 
tliinkin av the toime so near at hand, an' yet I can't helj» 
havin' the fear upon me that sometliin' moight come be- 
chuneusat the last moment, that afther all it moight chance 
ye'd niver go to brighten the ould house or )nake glad the 
lonely hearth-stone. 

MiMi. Oh! Sure Dan mabouchleen it's a strange fancy 
that's took ye av a suddin, an' yet there's rayson enough in 
it too. You're afther thinkin' how little ye desarve me, an' 
tills is why it chances to ye that somethin' might happen to 
put us asunder. 

D.vx. Perhaps it's right yez arc. God he knows it I 
don't desarve ye mavourneen, {.^peafciiuj gravely) but listhen 
a — colleen, I'd thought not to sadden ye wid it, but me 
heart tells me it is best to lave ye free to choose. The peo- 
ple av Ireland are starvin', that ye know; the famine an' 
faver go hand in hand, desthroyin the young an' the ould; 
the sheriff, the tithemin an' soldiers are let loose upon our 
lands, harassin' the starvin' poor. Just yisterday 1 counted 
five ejected families along the road widout a roof to shel- 
ter thim or a place they could call home, while here an' 
there along the road I saw hapes av grey ashes whoie 
some av the poor crathurs' cabins used to stand, an' their 
little childher' used to play. Now look yez, asthore, last 
Autumn toiine the harvest was galore, an' governmeat left 



G • 

it be carried away to bring riches to tliini that would scarce 
thurn back a crumb in charity, which, betokens, thank God 
we niver axed — we only wanted our own. Now there's 

thrue men an' brave that swears that the harvest shall not 
be taken out of the land. Now, if there do be a risin' up 
amongst the boys, — which same is spoken of at the prisint 
toime — it's Dan Cassarn that'll shouldher his grandfather's 
pike an' march to tlie fore; it'sDan Cassarn too that moight 
be the first to fall, an' so I want to ax ye now, mavourneen, 
in the face av all this, are yez sthill willin' to marry me, — 
now whin the corrun is golden? — an' lave me go to me 
death, perhaps, along wid the risin', for sure it is I could 
niver hould back, wid the thrue heart av an Irishman 
widin me bosom, an' in me veins the blood of ninety-eight ! 
MiMi. Dan mabouchleen asthore maehree, yer words 
they bring fear to me heart, but no shame to ye as a coward 
thank God, or that ye love a woman above yer land. Hark 
ye, agra ! Me grandame fought wid a stone in her apron at 
ould Vinegar Hill in ninety-eight ! I could niver do that — 
the loikes is not in me — nor would ye wish it Dan, but I 
could wait, an' watch, an' pray to the good God an' the 
blessed Virgin for victory, an' could give the dearest 1 had 
to die for the sake of Erin. ( Dan kisses her.) 

{A voice heard off L., MiMi and Dan cross over to gates.) 

Enter Mrs. O'Neil. ivith basket filled ivith parcels and bottles, 
through gateway, i,. 
Mrs. O'N. Oh wirrasthru ! — phillilew ! — oh blissid Var- 
gin, holy St. Dominic, Peter an' Paul the 'postle, what'll I 
do? Oh patther an' ave ! that bosthoon ! (Looking out at 
gates.) Oh, ye disgrace to me an' all belongin' to yez! 



MiMi. What is it mother dear ? (MiMi puts her arm 
around her. 

Mrs. O'N. It's whippin' at the cart's tail he ought to 
get, the shameless scapegrace of an omadhaun ! Oh wirra ! 
wirra! to think that he'd go out on the green on this your 
widdin' day, an' rise such a hullabaloo wid a lot of goss- 
oons. ( Wringing her hands.) 
Enter Shaun O'Neil gun in hand, r. 

Shaun. Stop yer ballyrag mother, th' quality's comin'. 

{Sfuikes hands ivith Dan.) 
(Mrs. O'Neil and Mimi cross to lodge, Mimi throus a kiss 
to Dan.) [Exit Mrs. O'N. and Mimi into lodge. 

Elder Wolf Tone Galdarrick and Lord Dunraven, r.. 

engaged in conversation. 
( Squire Galdarrick perceives Dan and pokes him in the 
side with his whip, langhing heartily.) 

Squire. My Lord, look at the sly rogue, to come around 
here playing his kimmeens, and steal the jtrettiest girl in 
all broad Ballinalea, sure had I been Shaun I'd have shctt 
him for a poacher. 

Lord. Good gwacious I {All laugh.) 

Squire. Well lad, long life to you; and I say Shaun, 
tell the butler to send something over to the lodge to wet 
the piper's throat, for you shall have titled guests tc-night. 

SiiAUN. Sure thin it's happier than a King I'll be this 
night. 

(Squire and Shaun cross over and examine gates, Lord and 
Dan stand talking.) 

Lord. You Iwish seem to enjoy life. 

Dan. The genuine home bred paddy makes toime for 
fun sooner than anythin' else, we take our own way an' 



8 

live the longer. 

Lord. Wema'kably stwange ! How long geneVay do 
the people in this countwy live? 

Dan. Troth sir, we live as long as we like. 

Lord. How vewy widiculous ! Why then do the Iwish 
eraigwate ? 

Dan. Because Ireland is such a healthy country they 
have to lave home to die. 

Lord. How vewy dwoll you Iwish are! {Bla^tt of a hniUers 
horn, off L., they all look out at ffateway) Squire ! — is it the post? 

Squire. No, that is my whipper-in, out with the pack for 
an airing. He's known tlie country round as the omadhaun, 
a wild harum-scarum dare-devil, but an excellent whip. 

RoRY. (OjfjL) Tally-ho! 

Squire. {Shoittimj.) Tally-ho! 

(Mrs. 0'Np]IL appears at lodge door.) 
Enter Rory on Iwrse^back with the pack through gateuay l. 
{Hie acene w cloged.) 

Scene 1 1. The exterior of Father Mahones*. Home nith 
landscape backing. Tree with circular seat, to rerolre. 

(Molly discovered asleep on seat with basket of flowers beside her. 
Enter RoRY, L. Perceiving Molly he icinks slyly, and tiptoeing 
over to seat, kisses her and disappears behind tree.) 

Molly. {Awaking u-ith a start.) Sure it's only a dhrame. 
(Pouting) I dhramed I was at the widdin', an* as I kissed 
the bride the face changed, an' Rory was laughin' at me 
from beneath the veil. 

Rory. {Appearing.) A bride — am I ? 



9 

Molly. Sure it's a great shame av yez intirely, to 
steal upon me unbeknownst like that, Rory O'Neil. 

RORY. An' ye niver knew I was to the fore, ye little 
rogue o' tlie wonuld! 

Molly. How should I, indade? an' yerself steppin* 
saftly as a rabbit along the sod; sure 'twas wishin to 
take me by surprise ye were, I know yer ways. 

Rory. Murragh, me jewil, ye'r wrongin' me intirely. 
Sure I niver had the thought. 

Molly. Well no matther! ye stole a kiss, an' that ye 
can't deny. 

Rory. Och! bad luck to me! did I so? I'd niver rest 
aisy nor have a quiet consciance, until I'd pay it back 
wid intherest, mavourneen. 

''Molly breaks away, Rory starts in pursuit. Father 
Mahone appears at doorway and stands ivatching RORY. 
As Rory runs around he i)erceives the prieat, and stops, 
cap in hand. Molly stands laughing L.) 

Father. Rory O'Nf il! {In a deeply reproachful tone.) 
Didn't I teach you your blessid religion? Ah' yet at the 
patthern or fair, at the dance or the wake, all sorts an' 
sizes of divilment an' divarshun are found wherever 
you go. 

Rory. I axes yer riverence's pardon. Sure it's the 
clargy I'd be sorry to offind. 

Father. Rory— reform your course an' be a man. 

Rory. Och!— it's a foine thing to be a giutleman! 

Father. All men are created equal. 

Rory. Equal is it? If a gintleman breaks a horses 
back he's only a bowld rider; while a poor sarvint is a 
careless blaguard for only takin, a sweat out of him. If 



10 

a gintleman (lliriLks till he can't see a liole in a lad- 
dher, he's only fresh; bnt dhrunk is the word for a poor 
man. A.l' if a gintleman kicks up a row, he's a foine 
spirited fellow; while a poor man is a disordherly vaga- 
bone for the same; an' the justice axes the one to 
dinner an' sinds the other to jail. Oh! faix, the law is 
a dainty lady; she takes people by the hand who can 
iifford to wear gloves, but people wid brown fists must 
kape their distance. 

Fathee. Remember I two wrongs wiH never make a 
right, 'tis but a world view; {Kemovhig his hat and 
pointinq upward,) for in that higher coort the sins of 
prince or pheasant will be defined. [Exit l. slowly, 
reading h<ok.\ 

RoRY. Bad luck t' me, intirely. I'm always fallin* 
into traps, here's his riverence usin' you for a bait, an' 
thin batin' me wid a serrnint; thin over the green hill 
beyant, awliile agone, me loife almost wint out on me 
wid th' fright. 

Molly. And how was tliat Rory? (F/cA-s- nx) haslet of 
flowers.) 

Rory. Why, I was comin' by th' by-road that runs up 
at th' back o' th' owld house, nigh hand the widdy 
Caseys, so I jist peep'd through th' owld iron gate that's 
as stiff in th' hinge as a misei's fist, up th' road I'adin' 
to th' house, lookin, as lonely as a church yard, wid th' 
grass growin' out through it, and says I to meself, I'm 
thinkin' it's few darkens your doors, says I, God be wid 
th' time th' owld Squire was here, that stayed at home 
an' didn't go abroad out of his own counthry, leavin' th' 
folne stately owld place go to rack an' ruin; an' faix I 



11 

was tuinin' back an' I wish I did, wlien pliat should I 
see but a ghost. 

Molly. A phost!!! {Vropfi basket and stands starrhui 
at Rory.) 

ROBY. To all appearaoces, but 'twas only a tiJng 
'twas stuck in the hedge to frighten whoiver was passin' 
by; an' as 1 kem up to it there was a groan, si I started, 
an' looked at it for a minit, or there-away; but I seen 
phat it was, and threw a stone at it, for fear I'd be mis- 
taken; an' I heer'd tittherin' inside the hedge, an' thin 
I knew it was only divilraent of some one. 

Molly. And phat was it? 

Rory. 'Twas a horse's head in troth, wid an owld hat 
on th' top of it, an' two bu( k briers stuck out at each 
side, an' some rags hangin' on them, 'twas jist altogether 
loike a long faced man wid high shoulders and no body, 
and very long arms and short legs:— faith, it frightened 
me at first. 

Molly. An' no wondher, I think I'd lose my loife if I 
seen th' loike, but sure wouldn't you know ihat ghosts 
niver appear by day? 

Rory. Ay, but I hadn't time to think o' that, bein' 
takin' short wid th' friglit— more betoken, 'twas th' 
place the raurdhcr happened i:i long ago. 

Molly. Who was murdhered? (Marking herself 
with the sign oj the cross.) 

Rory. 'Twas a schoolmaster, darlin', that was found 
dead on th' road one mornin' wid his head all in jom- 
methy, an' some said he fell off his horse, an' there v\ as 
talk of shoe aside. 

Molly. Th' horse's shoe, was it? 



12 

EOEY. No, alanna, shoe-aside is Latin for cutlin' 
your throat. 

Molly. Did he cut his throat? 

RoRY. Sure it's all wan whether he done it wid a 
razhir on his throat, or a hammer on his head; it's shoe. 
asifle all th' same. 

Molly. But was there a hammer found? 

RoRY. No, but some people thought he moight have 
hid the hammer afther he done it, to take off th' dis" 
grace of shoe- aside. 

Molly. But wasn't there any loife in him? 

RoRY. Not a taste; the coroner's jury sat on him, an' 
he niver said a word agin it, an' if he was alive he 
would. 

Molly. An' didn't they find anything at all? 

RORY. Nothing but the vardiek. 

Molly. An' was that phat killed him? 

RoRY. No! no! darlin' 'twas the crack in the head 
that killed him, however he came by it, but th' vardiek 
o' th' coroner was, that it \Aas done, an' that some wan 
did it, and that they wor blaguards whoever they wor, 
an' persons onknown, an' sure if they were onknown 
thin' they'd always stay so, for who'd know thim aftlipr 
doing th' loike? 

(Ringing of wedding bells <ffL.) 

Molly. Oh, Rory! look yaundher and see all th' 
people comin' to the weddin'. 

Rory. {Looking off L.) Musha! I didn't know there 
was so many in th' wourld. 

Molly. Who's that fornins-t us on th' road. 

Rory. Why, thiu, don't you know him, Molly? by 



13 

(lad I tlioufflit there wasn't a parisli in tli' county that 
didn't know Phaidrig th' piper. 

Molly. An' is that Phaidrig? (Lmighinr/.) Oh yes 
an' tliere's Murphy the fiddler wid him. 

RoRY. Throth it is, and there corner the O'Riiey's an' 
th' O'Rafferty's an' tli' Brady's an" Kitty Crow wid Jerry 
Sullivan, an' there's Phil Mullipan. (Spealhu/ off L.) 
Top o' th' moiuin', Phil. 

( Voice from off L ) Same to ye Rory 
An' there's— oil tare alive! What i-^ it? {Laughing.) by 
the powers its Larry Lanigan wid his father's hat on, 
an' d'ye nioind th' walk. 
Molly. Husli -he'll hear ye. 

Rory. An' there comes Mickey Hickey an' Mrs. Flan- 
agan, an' Tim an' Owny Doyle— an' — 

Molly. Yes Rory, I see, an' now let us away, for 
chance ye can prove an alibi lo his Riverence for yer 
kimuieens if ye beliave yerself at the wed.lin'. 

Rory. {Puts his arm around Molly they ivalk slowly 
left.) Sure I wish 'twas your weddin' darlin' an' I was 
the only man in the worrukl. [Exit both L.] 

{The Scene is closed.) 
Scene III. Green Center. Moonliijht scene of cross 
roads with sign post. 

Enter Capt. Montaciu, R. lie pace's up and down impa- 
tiently stops with back to L. 

Capt. Not here yet, will the scoundrel ever come? 
Wait! wait! with the memory of this day's work burning 
in me like a flame! 

Enter Lanty KILFOYL, shiUnly in hand, L. look in tj back- 
ward, runs (((/(liiint Capt. 



14 

CaPT. Fool!— {Half draws sword.) 

Lanty. Howly Biddy! {Starting back.) I axes yer 
honor's pardon. I niver seen ye sur, in the clouds av^ 
night. 

Capt. Tut! tut! man, what luck? 

Lanty. Th' trap's set, all that remains is to spring it 
upon him. 

Capt. You are sure Lanty, about this thing^sure 
that the weapons are really there— that there is no 
chance of mistake? 

Lanty. As sure sur as I see the moon yandher— a 
dozen muskets and twinty pikes — I put I him there 
mesilf, an' be these tokens sur, 1 could m^ke no mis- 
take. Tare-an-ouns, jist ihink av it yer honor, phwat a 
moighty big surprise it'll be to thim at the lodge to- 
night. The b'ys wud foight t' th' last gasp for Cassarn, 
but it's small cliance they'll sthand along wid havin' no 
warnin', an' th' so'gers thimsilves to th' fore. 

Capt, True enough, Lanty! I'll take good care o^ 
that. I want to risk no failure of my plans, to leave no 
loophole through which he might escape — {Distant 
bagpipe music off 1. ) let him laugh with his friends, and 
look into the lovely eyes of his bride, and be happy in 
his fool's paradise what brief time he may, for out of it 
he goes to the hangman and the scaffold; and for me, 
the weight of this vengeance I have planned to fall in 
such an hour will be doubly sweet! 

Lanty. Look! yer honor. {Catching at Capt's. sleeve.) 
Be tokens av mesilf belongin' t' th' united mi/i, I have 
got all their sacrets widout throuble, an' have used thim 
in yer honor's sarvice wliin wanted; which same - av it 



15 

was known— me loi-fe wudn't be worth a tliareen. But 
it's ginerous as a prince yer honor's bin, always givin' 
me half th' reward, an' niver lettin' me name appear. 

Capt. No! this is not our first night's work Lanty ! so 
have no fear. I received orders yesterday from Dublin 
to search all suspicious places, and to guard against an 
uprising among the peasantry; it will serve our purpose 
well to night and give it an honest look. The girl is 
wonderous lovely, I've sworn to have her, and so 1 will, 
if it be at the sacrifice of a hundred lives— this spirited, 
bewitching, dazzling creature that left the prints of her 
white teeth upon my hand, and a deeper print at the 
same time, I believe, upon my heart— fuol that I am, 
always was where a handsome woman was concerned, 
and this little wild Irisli girl is divine. 

Lanty. An'soye'z will, too sur; I'm always ready to 
do you a friendly turn, ownly in ihis matther we must 
be cautious— very cautious— not a man iu th' county 
stands higher, or in better repute wid th' paple at th' 
prisent toime than young Dan Cassarn— curse him! he's 
always snubbin' me forninst the b'yes. an* wanct he 
called me a thraitor! thin there's O'Nail the gamekeeper, 
who swore agin me at the assizes for poachin', may th' 
divil fly away wid himi I hates thim well nigh as bad as 
ye. We'll hunt thim down, take my word for it sur 
ownly we must be cautious. 

Capt. True, a hasty step might ruin the sweetest 
and best of revenges. I could have shot him, but that 
would have been awkward, and might have g«t me 
into trouble, since, as you say , he stands so well, 
besides, to have been transported, or see him swing on 



16 

a gibbet is infinitely better, and we will, that I swear. 
I will call out the company to-night, and search all 
suspicions places, at last as if by chance, I'll stumble 
upon the Smithy ; then if you have not blundered 
Lanty, a'l will b3 well ; and the weapons, where are 
they ? 

Lanty. Up an ould clay chimney-flue in th' rear. 

Capt. The place near Rathnew, is his V 

Lanty. Yis yer honor! a stone's throw from Rath- 
new, on the Rathnew Road. 

Capt. Report to me here, at this hour to-morrow 
evening, I pay liberally, always, that you know. And 
now to spring the trap, for the hour is wearing late, so 
aii-revoir Lanty, until we meet again. [Exit r. 

Lanty. Aroy voy! Sure that'^ poor Irish! Divil a 
wan o' me knows phwat it manes at all nor cares ay ther* 
Captain darlin, as long as I see th' shine av yer goold. 

[ ExU L. 
( Sane draios.) 

Scene IV. The Home of the Gamekeeper Interior of 
lolge decorated with holly, moonlight shining through 
open door and windows. Huge punch bowl at the left. 
Fiddler and Piper on raised seat, right; Squike stands 
centre; LORD, PRIEST, MiMI, Dan, MRS. O'N. and ShAUN 
l^ft'^ Peasants form a crescent right of door, all holding 
drinking cups except MlMI and Dan. Molly and RORYa?'e 
filling Peasants cups. 
Squire {Raising cup.) 

Friend of my soul this goblet sip, 
'Twill chase the pensive tear; 
'Tis not so sweet as woman's lip. 
But, oh— 



17 

(All laugh. SQUIRE turm with a comical expression.) 
RORY. There's not a headache in a hogshead av it, 

sure I dhrailk— (Molly places her hand over Rory's 

mouth.) 

Lord. Gallantwy, Squiaw! gallantwy! 

(Cries of a toast! a toast! among Peasants.) 
Squire. Here's to tlie bonny bride, and lucky smith, 

May their lives be bright as yonder moon, 
Without an eclipse to darken it. 
May their days outnumber the stars, 
And each hour prove a golden one. 
May their path be lined with roses. 
And rich blessings greet their every step. 

So drink lads and lassies, and wish them a God speed. 

Father. Amon! (.1// drink, lag cups aside, and sit 
doiun.) 

RORY. Friends, Tim an' Owny Doyle have kindly 
consented to sing a song [Cheering amj)ig Feasants. 
Tioo Peasants advance and sing a song, then sit down 
amidst cheering «->/ PEASANTS.) 

Lord. {Rising.) Capital, vewy extwaordnawy song. 
(RORY displaces LORD'S st)ol, LORD goes to sit down and 
gets a fall. RORY and ShAUN assist LORD to stool.) 

Squire. Come. Phaidrig, give us the chanter of the 
pipes, and make the rafters ring Now Molly and Rory, 
if you flit the less you'll dance the more, so on with your 
liveliest jig. 

(Piper and Fiddler play jig, Molly anc^RoRY commence 
dancing at center; great merriment among the PEASANTS.) 

Mrs. O'N. Spliring th' toe, Molly. (Laughier.) 



18 

• 

Shaun. More power t' ye Rory, or she'll do ye! 
Mrs. O'N. Molly I Molly I is it wings t' yer feet? 
Rory. Hooray! 

Enter Capt. MONTAGU and SERGEANT LanCE. 

{'it centre door with a company of Bedcoots, armed with 
muskt'ts and glittering bayonets, to guard all doors and 
ivindoirs.) 

Capt. {stands facing the dm, r.) Twos right and left» 
march! Column right and left, march! Twos right and 
left, march! — Halt! {rums facing audience. Dan stands 
at bay with one arm around JJimi, loho clings to him. All 
stand thunderstruck.) 

Squire. Captain, as the owner of these estates, I 
take the liberty to ask the meaning of this war-like 
visit. 

Capt. Squire, I trust you will pardon this unavoid- 
able intrusion, my duty must answer for an apology. 
{Taking ivarrant from belt.) In her Majesty's name I 
bear orders to arrest one DanT Cassarn, for the conceal- 
ment of arms, which is felony in the sight of the law. 

{Outburst of indignation among peasants.) 

Father. ( Advancing motioning silence.) Friends, I 
have known Daniel Cassarn all his life ; I have watched 
his growth from boy to early manhood ; and I stand 
here to night in the eve. of life, with life's work 
nearly done, ready to testify that he is the soul of 
honor ; and now Daniel, on the strength of the great 
love I bear thee, and for the sake of those you love, I 
ask you, are you guilty or innocent of this charge ? 



19 

Dan. {ProuHly.) I am innocent. Yer Reverence, 
{pointing to Captain,) yonder is th' hound that has done 
this, th' sneaking, cowardly Montagu, who has run me 
to the earth, as he swore to do, because I left him feel 
th' weight av me good right arm, for an insult that he 
put upon th' swate an' honest lassie that I've this day 
made me bride.) Shouts and imprecations from peasants.) 

Capt. This is a painful but unavoidable duty. The 
sooner it is over with the better. [Shouts among peasants.) 
Charge bayonets! 

Lord. (Advancing towards CapT. and using his hat as 
a shield.) Don't fire! — Captain — don't fire! — I am an 
Englishman. 

Capt. My Lord, there's no necessity for firing. Ser- 
geant, secure your prisoner. 
(Sergeant Lance advances vnth handcuffs toivards Dan.) 

MiMI. {Wildly, despairingly.) Dan! Dan! {Swoons in 
Dan's arms.) 

(RORY holds a stool by one leg. PEASANTS siaud in threat- 
ening attitudes. SOLDIERS stand at charge bayonets.) 

End of Act 1. 



c-^=5fc^-s^-;i 



20 
\CT II. 

Scene I. TIte exterior o/ FATHER MahONE'S. Moonlujht. 
{Enter RORY L., crosses to center and st((nds looking at 
house.) 

RORY. (Sini/s ) 

Oh! MvoUy bawii wliy leave \w pining, 

All lonely waiting here for you, 
While the stars above are brightly shining 

Because they've nothing else to do; 
The flowers late were open keeping, 

To try a rival blush with you, 
But their mother. Nature, set them sleeping 

With their rosy faces washM with dew. 

Molly. (Opoiiuf/ u-indov:.) Hush— (Hands letter 
and hlavk bundle to RORY.) 

RORY. Oh! me jewil, yer face shines through th* 
gloom loike th' fairest star av iiight. 

Molly. Rory, did you discover anything? 

RoRY. Ay! but for tlie loife av me naiy a thing can I 
make av it, good or bad. Ye see at suniise this mornin' 
I went to the smithy an' hioked in ihe windy, all was as 
silent as the grave, not a sign av loife, nor a sound, 
aven th' birds in the trees were still, as if they too 
missed the ringing music av the smith; who was miles 
away in Wicklow jail, then I went around to th' rear, an' 
there in the soft sod I found marks of heavy brogans. 
An' thin here an' there signs as if some one had climbed 
up on th' Ihatcli ri of, so I scrambled to th' top. an' nigh 



21 

til' owld chimney in which tli' weapons were in — 
{Taking a snare from his pocket and holding it up) I found 
this. 

Molly. Yes, Roiy! what is it? 

RORY. A poachers snare. 

Molly. An' ye suspects some wan? 

RORY. Yes, but I don't know who it is. 

Molly. Can't ye think av some one, some enemy? 

RORY. DJvil a man! Dan had th' good will av all the 
b'yes. I after thinkin' some wan unbeknown to Dan hid 
tliim there for safe keepin' for sure it is th' weapons 
were put in at the top av the chimney, th' signs are 
plain as day, an' if he's a traitor, chance he'll get caught 
by his own trap that he lost up there that night. 

(Bright light of bonfire offi,.) 

Molly. Rory, for two nights past fires have burned 
on yonder hill top. 

Rory. (Looking all around.) Betokens, 1 know that, 
there's a fire on every hill top in Ireland to-night, 'tis 
th' peep-o-day b'ys signal that th' risin' is nigh at hand. 

Molly, flush— Father Mahone is comin'. 
(Rory disappears behind tree as FATHER Mahone enters 
through doorway, and stands looking off L.) 

Father. (Shaking his head.) I fear there's dark and 
troubled days ahead. Many and many a man has died 
for the dear old land. Our own Lord Edward, Emmett, 
Wolftone, and a hundred others, that makes us proud to 
think of ninety-eight ; yet the fiery spirit of th' youth 
an' th* patriotic ardor of old Ireland's sons will niver 
be quenclied— will niver learn th' lesson of silence and 



22 

submission. {Tnmijxj to Molly.) Come child, come iu, 
and let us together pray heaven's blessing, that Ireland 
may yet see brighter days. 

(Exit Priest into house.) 

RORY. { Appearing.) Is th' coast clear.) 

Molly. Yes, his riverence is at prayer. Now, Rory, 
tell me th' secret, for me conscience is tindlier. 

Rory. Whist, darlin! ye'il be goin' to confession, so 
I'll give ye no sacrets to kape. And now I must be off, 
for me father an' the horses are waitin', we're out for a 
moonlight ride. {Going l) 

Molly. But Rory— 

Father. {Calling from within. ;Molly! 

Molly. Yes, yer riverence. {ThroiDs a kiss to Rory) 

(/i.r-/^ Rory L.) 

{The scene is dosed.) 

Scene II. Green Centre. Moonlight scene (>J cross roads 

with sign-post. 
{Enter CAPTAIN MONTAGU and LanTY KilfOYL, R. CAP- 
TAIN stands s)niling; Lanty keeps rubbing his hands 
together. 

Capt. Everything has worked like a charm in our 
favor Lanty, and after we have the pleasure of seeing 
this brave knight of the fist and shillaly swing, per- 
haps pretly Mimi will not be so chary of her kisses. 

Lanty. Betokens an' that's phwat many's a foin leddy 
wud not be t' you sir, let alonst a gamekeeper's 
danghther, an' a thousand chances t' wan, win Cas- 
sain's hung she'll drap iutil yer honor's arms loike a 
ripe apple off a tree. 



23 

Capt. Oh, no doubt! The giri was willing enough, 
and flattered too, until her lover came in unexpectedly 
upon us ; then she struggled as if in fear of me— 
women are always like that. lam not a coward, but the 
cursed, low-born, sneaking dog gave me no chance of 
defence. ( Walks about excitedly.) 

Lanty. (LeeriiKj.) Sorra a man o' me casts a doubt 
on that, yer honor. It's yersilf phats got th' right 
dhrop in yez, and th' thriilh av steel to ye'r friends. 

Capt. Surely she did not understand what this is 
tliat I offered. I offered her the world, and a beautiful 
woman's place in it. No sway could be wider or 
greater; no power this side heaven so omnipotent. 
Men would have bowed down and worshipped her, and 
let her set her dainty foot upon their necks, willing 
slaves and bondsmen. She would have ruled like a 
queen, the humble garb of a peasant is not for such 
beauty as her's. But since she would not listen to rea- 
son I had to resort to force. No power on earth shall 
take her from me. Lanty! I am not a man much given 
to confidence, but to night the mood is on me strangely, 
to read to you from the book of my youth. I'm a mem- 
ber of a titled English family, affection or over kind- 
ness permitted me first as an Eton bo5% and afterwards 
as a gentleman, to indulge in every dissipation that 
suited my fancy. An unlimited indulgence, a free 
command of whatever money I asked for, added to a 
temper constitutionally headstrong and impetuous, 
soon developed what might have been expected from 
such a combination. I led a life of wild insubordina- 
tion at school, and was expelled from Oxford. So fate 



24 

which plays with human life, much after the manner 
that children play with blow-balls, tossed me across the 
path of a certain fast set, who loved dinners at Claren- 
don, high play, and other comcomitant pleasures at 
prices that would in the end have swamped Rothschild. 
Of course, Lanty, such things are beyond your compre- 
hension. After trying in vain to interest myself in the 
pursuits of life, which would have made me a favoiable 
figure in the world, I left England— well— say— for my 
family's good, influence gave me a Captaincy in Her 
Majesty's service, but I am tired of this dull, monoton- 
ous life. I wish to take Mimi out of the country, to 
travel, for a year or so— who shall hinder— and once 
abroad, she will, I trust, listen and be wise. 

Lanty. Faix, an' I'm tliinkin' it's a proud lady she'd 
be to travel wid the loikes av ye, sur. 

Capt. She is the fairest creature the world ever saw, 
once in my possession, with a year or so of polishing, 
what a rare and radiant woman she will make! She 
will no d*oubt cut up rough at first, but in the end she 
will listen to that which is for her advantage— women 
always do, from the peeress down to the peasant they 
are all pretty much alike. {Paciiuj to and fro.) 

Lanty. Th' bitther grief tome ^.^hakhuj ]tis ji^t at 
Capt. back) when yer honor laves th' country. Och, 
wurrah, wurrah, sorry's th' day; th' b'yes 'ill be afthur 
me wid a vengeance! I'll hang to th' nearest three! I'll 
be kilt widout priest or shrive phativer will yer poor 
humble sarvint Lanty Kilfoyl do at all, at all? 

Capt. (Aside.) I've put this fellow on his guard. 
(Alcnd.) Oh pshaw, Lanty, what's the use of all this 



kind of talk between you and me? Of course, I'm 
inclined to do the fair thing by you; I have always paid 
you well for your services, have I not? 

Lanty. Indade, an' yer honor may say that same. 

Capt. Although you'll be of little service to me per- 
sonally, in the future, still I am ready and willing to do 
what I can for you. 

Lanty. Av coorse, av coorse, biisthered be th' tongue 
phat would say o' agin ye, sure I know yer honor will 
thrate me right an' fair, for as I was comin' alon^ to-day 
over ih' hill beyant, phat did 1 find but this. (IloJdivfj 
lip a sprig of shamrock.) 

Capt. (Looking at it.) Why, man, it's only a four- 
leaf shamrock. 

Lanty. Be th' powers ye're in rare luck this toime 
Lanty avourneen! sez I, huggin' mesilf as I wint; arrah 
thin but it's yersilf that's a broth av a b'y! not miny has 
luck loike ye, t' be falliu' in wid lashin's o' goold! 

Capt. {Laughing ) Well Lanty you are a deep one I I 
suppose I am to be the gold mine. (Tosses purse to him.) 

Lanty. (Chuckling.) Sure I niver had th' though ; 
but I'm much obleeged t' yer honor. 

Capt. I'll take the deed for the word, Lanty. 

Lanty. Now if I can be av no further service t' yer 
honor, I've a hut up nigh Divil's Glin, an' I'll go up 
there for a few days to kape th' game from leadin' too 
aisy a loife. 

Capt. Right you are, Lanty! go keep yourself out of 



2G 

harm's way. If I require your services I shall manage 
in some way to let you know; until then good-bje. 

[Exit CaPT. R. 

[Exit Lantyl. 
{Scene draws.) 

Scene III. Wickluw Prison. Moonlight shinincj through 
large grated icindow, right. Heavy iron door left centre. 
Curfew bells heard ringing off right. 

(Dan stands loooking cut of windcnv.) 

Dan. Erin, mavourneen, slanthagal go bragh!— God 
knows every heart throb av me is thrue t' yez, ivery 
dhrop av blood in me veins I'd be willin' to shed in yer 
definee!— ivery fut av yersod isdeartomeas loifel ivery 
green shamrock that grows in th' ould land more 
precious than gould!— an' I thought that we'd dhrive out 
th' oppression an' set fair Ireland free— but th" toime is 
not yet!— an' I shall die!— or phwat's worse, go to a life- 
long slavery in Van Dieman's land! 

{Battling chains outride, SERGEANT swings door open.) 

Enter RORY through door disguised as FATHER MaHONE, 
clasping book and crucifix to his bosom as if in prayer. 

(Sergeant appears at doorway and stands watching the priestly 
figure. DAN turns, and perceiving the supposed priest, drops on 
one knee. RORY stops with outstretched hands. SERGEANT 
closes and fastens door from, outside.) 

RORY. Sowl t' glory! Dan don't yez know me? 
Dan. Barnes o' day! Can it be possible that this is 
indade yersilf, Rory O'Nale? 



RORY. Whist there! spake aisy, Dan avourneen. It's 
mesilf an' not another! though, as Father Mahone, I 
did do so nately thim stupid spalpeens out yandher in 
charge. 

Dan. Och! bad luck t' th' robes!— God forgive me! — 
I mane they're a great disguise intoirely. An' where 
did ye get th' wig, Rory? 

RORY. 'Twas left up t' th' 'Squires at th' last 'sizes— 
th' robes and pass were poached by Molly. An' now t' 
get ye out av here Dan— Mimi an' me father are waitin' 
wid th' horses at The Ruins on the channel, so on wid 
th' robes Dan, {anfaatening cloak and holdiiui it out to 
Dan) an' ye'U be up at Divil's Glin at dawn. 

Dan. An' how are we going t' pass th' guard'?— 
moight I make bould to ax? 

Rory. Why, tare an' ouns! sure it's as aisy as 
loiie! All yez have to do is t' pass out as th' priest. 

Dan. An' leave you here? 

Rory. To be sure ! 

Dan. An' did ye think i'd go and leave ye, Rory? 
May th' very shamrocks lift up a voice and cry shame; 
if such cowardly blood be in me. 

Rory. Oh murther! phwat'llldo? 

D4.N. Carry this answer bick t' me bride— that loife 
is dear, an' that I'd come t' her, if it were through says 
av human blood! — but say I could not accept me liberty 
at th' sacrifice of a brother! 

Rory. Listen t' rayson, Dan. 'Twas in definse av 
MJmi ye wer« after gettin' th' ill will av th' captain— 
and phwat wid a packed jury, and a judge that cares 



28 

(livil a rap for justice, ye'li be transported this day week 
barria' ye're huns:. 

Dan. Niver shall any man say that th' blood av a 
coward wathered me veins, or that I cast aside th' right 
t' wear upon me heart th green. 

RORY. Bitther bad indade, Dan, has th' toime come 
t' be wid us, when min are dhriven as sheep unto th' 
slaujzhther. An' ye won't go? Sure th' Squire wud get 
me out. 

Dan. God bliss ye Rory! No! 

RoRY. {Replacing cloak.) Saint Patrick aid me while 
I think! 

Dan. Rory, quick! Give me tidin's av Mimi, mavour- 
neen, me own little acushla ague, does it fare well or 
ill with her? God knows it was a bither indin' to our 
widdin' day. 

Rory. She's out yandher at th' ruins, pinin' an' losin' 
all her bright ways for him who will not come. She 
pleaded to-day on her bended knees, with that reptile 
av a Captain, but he would not leave her in to see ye. 
The vilest reptile that crawls is better nor him— the 
blackest traitor that iver lived had more honor. He 
wanted to make her a great leddy ; he promised her 
jewels, silks and grand livin' ; he said you were a crim- 
inal, a conspirator against th' governmint ; you could 
be made to suffer the pe nalty of your misdeeds at any 
time ; but if she consented to marry him, he would al- 
low you to escape, provided you'd leave th' country ; that 
in England he could thin obtain a divorce, an' wid 
beauty, culture grace and a good marriage name, bla- 
zoned wid gold, need not flutter a proud pedigree to 



29 

force the proud circle of society to open and leave 
them in. 

Dan. An' pliwat did she say? 

RORY. I'm an honest man's wife, no woman can ax 
for better; your words are insults, ivery wan that ye 
sphake. If Mimi O'Nail was standin' by th' wayside, or 
dyin' in a ditch, she'd not take help or succor from your 
hands— nor so much as a sup of cold wather nor a crust. 
Coward an' villain, I hates an' despises ye, that ye 
know. 

Dan. May all the curses av heaven an' earth light on 
himi May he niver know peace, slapin' or wakin'! May 
thorns be always in his pillow, an' indless tormints in 
his flesh I Fiends an' devils, an' wicked faries beset his 
path continually I An' through all may he remember 
that worse than these, an' if it falls not in twinty 
years, will come Dan. O'Nail's reviuge. 

(A chain rattles outside door. Dan drops on his knees, 
RORY stands holding crucifix, to Dan'S lips.) 

{Enter SERGEANT through doorway, stops right of door.) 

Serg. The time is up! 

(RORY ioith bowed head, passes to doorwag. SERGEANT 
watches Dan, with back to RoRY, and reaches out to close 
door. RORY strikes SERGEANT, who falls.) 

RORY. Will yez come now? 

{Tosses the priest'' s attire to DAN.) 
Dan. Aye! unto th' dith! {Disguises a9 priest.) 



80 

(RoRY seizes SERGEANT'S cap an! bunch of ^ceys, and 
stands listening at the doorway) 

{Scene revolves.) 

Scene IV. The Eai'is on S^,. Ge'irye's Channel. Moon- 
light seen". liiiins of castle on cliff right; St. George's. 
Channel at the back. 

(MiMI stands on. r.liff. hft ce)itre, icatchixg higher eliff's. 
ShaUN stands gun in ha)id, ioith two horses, Ufl eentre ) 

Shaun. {Aside.) Masha, God help and save us all! It's 
a pity th' dark days wud iver come, but come they have 
eaough au' pliaty, au' seemin' all th' darker, perhaps, 
because av tfi' times beiu' so pleasant vvid us before. 
{Aloud.) Mimi, me jewil, i-^ anyoiiH coaiin'? 

MiMi. No wau. father ; the moon is at its full in tli' 
hivens, but there's no wan abroad to-night. I feel 
strangely flustrated an' onaisy like. 

Shaun. Chance he may av passed us on th' cliff 
above. Sing Vi'an av th' quaint ould " ballads," alanna, 
'twill guide Dan if he is nigli. 

Mimi. {Sings Killarney.) 
{At Jin is of song, light of bon-fire appears (>n cliff\ R.) 

{Pointino at cliff, R.) See, father! afire has sprung up 
on ih' cliff. 

Shaun. Tare-an-ounsI 'tis a signal th' "Peep o-Day 
B'ys" are out to-night. 

Mimi. Hiven forbid Dan falling into their hands. 

Shaun. Fear not alanna, their hearts are quick to 



31 

feel for any mortal crathur's disthress, their creed niver 
to bethray any livin' thing, avan so much as a dog, that 
thrusts in them, yet Governmint has set a price upon 
their heads; Governmint would put a hallher round 
their necks, forsooth, because they are traitors d'ye 
moind; it would do this, an' thin sind forth its tithemin, 
its sheriffs, its process servers to take a poor widdy's 
only shafe av corrun an' th' last remainin' thruss av 
shtraw bechuue hersilf an' th' shanty flure av cowld, 
cowld clay. 

MiMi. Father, I fear these rash speeches. Men have 
been hung for words iess treasonable. 

Shaun. Yes, alauna! many a man has been murth- 
ered for lovin' the ould land too well. But remember 
while England rules us wid an' iron hand, Irishmen 
will be found ready to sacrifice loife an' fortune to 
shake off the yoke an break th' chain that binds us; jist 
think av them that died in ninety-eight, shure I'm 
willin' to lift th' sword or pike for Erin when the toime 
comes. Not that mesilf is in any way to be compared 
wid th' loikes o' tliim av ninety eight, no more than th' 
glow-worm to th' stars, only I'd be as ready to pour out 
me blood, an' to die for th' dear ould land, but wan man 
against all thim murlherin', slayin' red-coats is a poor 
show, an' I don't want to be shot down loike a cowardly 
assassin. 

MiMi. They would murdher you on th' spot, or drag 
you away to an ignominious death. 

Shaun. Betokens, I know that. 

MiMi. How could you serve Erin thin, you are mad, 
utterly mad father, to speak of it. 'Tis bad, bad work, 



32 

just think of Dan, if he escapes at ail he'll bt^*a banned 
an' hunted ma a. 

Shaun. Y«'S, Yes, alanna! (PointiDn off at cliff -r.) But 
look yoadher! d'ye see anyone? 

MiMi. Ther's somebody running alonoj th' cliff! 

Shaun. Is it Dan? 

MiMi. There's more tlian wan! 

Shaun. Are ihey coming this way? 

MiMi. Mer^jiful God, 'tis Dan!— an' the redcoats are 
afther him!— save him father!— save liim! they are 
gainin' on him! (Buns wildhj djwn.) 

Eater DAN, riiiinin(j ■lotoa ruins, R., catches MiMI in his 
arms. 

(Shaun raises his (Jan.) 

Enter RORY B.,from ruins. 

(Shaun fires.) 

RORY. Oh! — Father! {St'n/rjers down ruins and falls.) 

(Dan springs to RORY'S side.) 

Shaun. Great hivins! phwat have I done? 
Dan. {Starting back.) Ye've kilt yer b'y! 

(Shaun Throios gun aside. All bend over RORY.) 
End of Act II. 



83 

ACT nr. 

Scene I. DeviVs Glen: early dawn. High cliffs and cas- 
cade for backing. Chasm and Ijwer cliffs below. 

(Dan stands shaking hands with Shaun, toho sits on horse- 
back and holds th^, other horse by bridle, 

Shaun. Yo'H foiud Larry up at tli' still— t' my belafe 
a safer place could not be found if we sarched th' whole 
county through. So leave thim scour th' moun- 
tains right and left, from th' deepest glin to th' highest 
craig that pierces hiven, they'll niver track je here, an' 
in th' mane time friends will leave no stone unturned 
to clear ye, an' now Dan before I leave ye, iiave ye an 
enemy? Can ye think av any spalpeen who would av 
set himself to win th' dhirty goold av an informer, 
phwat an honest man would niver care to have. 

Dan. I'm consumed an' tortured, an' driven nigh 
mad wid thinkin'. Sorry a man barrin' English Mon- 
tagu, with his moighty airs an' ways— th' beastly euro* 
CteJztbub! Faith an' he'd like to see ivery man trans- 
ported or hung p^vvat wouldn't be lavin' th' soft side o' 
th' blarney upon Limseif, th' black hawk-eyed rap o' th' 
divil. 

Shaun. That's thrue for yez, Dan ; it's bitther hard 
th' toimes has come to be wid us intirely — if a man mis- 
ses disthruction wid th' hunger, he's sure to mate it in 
th' law. 

Dan. Great hivinsi thin let us cast away th' green 
i\n' cringe for iver to th' red, an' rend ould Erin's crown- 
less harp, if we sit wid folded hands an' see our com- 



34 

rades given to th' halthers, or dragged in fetters from 
th' land they love. 

Shaun. Sowls to glory! I knewth' right dhrop was 
in ye "Mabouchaleen," there's me hand. {They clasp 
hands ) Shure, we niver done harm or bore malice to 
any livin' thing, only we can't help lovin' our country 
better nor our Queen. Lade th' way, Dan, an' it's mesilf 
that will follow afther, aveu unto th' dit . 

Dan. Other nations ere now have achieved their 
independence, an' so will this Irish nation of ours. Th' 
bravest and noblest in th' land— an' in other lands— will 
gladly welcome any movement tending to break the 
chain that binds us, an' set our own beloved green to 
flaunt on high in face of the sun, th' whole length and 
breadth av the country through This bles-sed toime 
isn't far distant ayther, there's strong hands an thrue 
hearts in it, an' min that's got a giant's powei along wid 
havin' right for a battle cry, and I hope to share in the 
struggle. If this be treason, let it echo on the highways 
and byways av th' land. 

Shaun. It '11 be wantin' in wit an' wake in courage 
wp'd be if, betokens, we'd not find a way to make ihem 

yaUl. 

Dan. If it's hangin' they want so bad, shure it's th' 
so'gers an' magistrates they may hang, divii a man av 
us is in for it at the prisint toime av speakin'. 

Shaun. Th' so'gers have come to do the will av th' 
law, an' do it they must tho' hearts are broken. Sorry 
a wan o' me blames thim at all, barrin' Montagu, but 
only the thraitor— whoiver he may be— th' thraitor 
amongst us that has blackened himself eternally wid th' 
shame av the informer. 



35 

Dan. Thraitor! informer! (Speaking slowli/.) Show 
me th' man. Threachery is th' crime above all others 
that a thrue Irishman niyer forgives, Spake me Mabou- 
chaleen, yer keepin* a secret. 

Shaun. Well thin, betokens, an' its a bitther bad 
thing for yez to liear, an' that's th' raison why I hesi- 
tated to tell yez Dan, avick. 

DAn. Out wid it man! Out wid it, th' powers has it 
that Dan O'Nail was niver born to be hung. 

Shaun. Well, I'll make a clean breast av it. Ye see 
Rory wint over to th' Smithy to see th' place by day, 
there was divil a sound, but this is phat he saw: marks 
av heavy brogans in th' soft sod in th' rear. 
Dan. Oh, fareer gairh, 'twas th' so'gers. 
Shaun. There yer wrong, sure 'twas out av s*»ason, or 
it's mesilf that 'd be thinkin' av Christmas. 

Dan. Marks av brogans! Christmas. (Aside.) Shure 
his raison nigh gone wid suspense an' fear. 

Shaun. Sorry a fear o' me, li^then, " 'twas th' wrong 
time av year, still th' toys wint down th' chimney. 

Dan. Howly virgin! don't shtop to spake av that 
now— give me th' secret. 

Shaun. Wait! Rory wint up on top av th' smithy, 
but some wan had been there afore him, thar was th' 
signs as plain as loife, where the weapons were put in 
at th' top av th' chimney, and on th' thatch he found 
a poacher's snare. 

Dan. a poacher's snare! top av th' Smithy ; spake 
but a single word, jist name the laddie that betrayed 
me, an' Ireland will know him no more. 
Shaun. Murdher will out Dan. Rory is on th' hunt. 



m 

be aisy for a few days ; he's sure to run tli' fox to th' 
earth. 

Dan. An' I'm to tarry here untilst th' sarcli is over? 

SHAUN. Yis, an' now I'll return wid th' horses t' throw 
suspicion off, so good-bye Dan, for the present. 

(Exit ShAUN icith h'lrses. L.) 

(Exit Dan, R ) 

Euii'.r LaNTY KiLFOYL from behind rod's R, looking ca7i- 
tioiisbj around 

Lanty. Howly Saint Patricli! It's Dan. Cassarn ; he's 
broken jail. Nayther bolts, nor bars, nor \^ alls av 
«htone, nor dures av iron can hold him ; an' d'ye be 
afther hearin phwat th' gamekeeper sid. Wurrrah, 
wurral), sorrys th' day I got the lads' ill-will, an' Rory 
O'Nail afther me loike a bioodhouufl, eager for me loife. 
Bad luck t' th' wan that timpted me. Faix, an' it's him- 
self ihat wnld niver rise th' hand or stir th'feet to kapc 
me neck from tir halther. I'm a heart-scalded creature, 
I am, intirely— betther would it ha' been I'd niver saved 
a coin, or had a pinny beehune mesilf an' starvation, 
than that I'd come to have ihls danger over me night 
an' day, slaidn', wakin', risin' up or sittin' down, fori 
have done that phat, betokens, th' b'ys will niver forgive 
an' niver rist aisy onlist their vensjeance falls, 
(>!loifh/) at any rate. It will be motiy a day afore a-wan 
o' them catlies th' fox ; so in th' manetoime I'll rist 
aisy. an' not be hearin' their footsteps in ivery lafe that 
stirs, in ivery hare that runs. Wisha, begora, it's mesilf 
phat likes th' color o' th' shiners, an' it's manys a broad, 
beautiful wan I got from his honor, that betokens, is al- 



37 

ways ready to pay for a nate bit o'sarvice loike a prince. 
{Looking o^ R.) It's aisy telliu' th' aigle is near his nest 
Faix, I know th' cave in th' rocks, down th' face av th' 
cliff, nigh th' ravine. Och! murther-in-Irish! Th' 
worruld's sorrow on yez Lanty Kilfoyl, for a witness 
spalpeen- if, betokens, ye're not afther gettin' a broad 
piece of gookl for sich game! Oh! for th' wings av an 
aigle, t' fly t' ye captain! More spade t'ye Lanty, avour- 
neen!— run as if th' very ould b'y himsilf was at yer 
hales! 

{Exit Lanty running, l.) 
{The scene is closed,) 

Scene IL Green center. Mid-day scene of cross roads 
toi th sign post. 

Enter RORY and MiMI R. 

(RORY wears a bandage around his head.) 

MiMi. Rory will ye sit down an' rist? Yer shakin' in 
ivery limb. 

RoRY. Arrah, i^ it takin' me for a gossoon ye are 
sure father shot wide av th' mark, 'tis only a scratch on 
me head from fallin' aginst the rocks. The last I re- 
membered at th' ruins ye were all cuttin' up sthrange 
antics in the moonbames. 

MiMi. God is good, let them get their fleetest horf-^es 
now, they'll niver track Dan; me lover husband is safe, 
thank God! 

Rory. Amin to yer words, shure its hopeful souls 
that min nade, an' wimmin too, in these black, bitther 
days. Take comfort an' aise to yer heart Minii an' re- 



38 

mimber that th' hour that goes before th' dawn is th' 
darkest hour o' night. 

MiMi. Indade, an' I'm tryin' to kape in moind that 
blessed motto always. 

RORY. Dan is not the only man who has suffered for 
lovin' old Ireland too well, but ye'll keep up heart under 
it all, that I know. 

MiMi. Fear not for me Rory, I have got th' blood av 
th' O'Nail's in me veins. Now let us be away; while we 
tarry here the moments go an' chance it is we'll be seen 
returning. 

Rory. (Stnppi})(j Mmi (j.i<d pohahnj l.) Saints in glory! 
There's that spalpeen av a Captain comin' 'long th' road 
an' Lanty Kilfoyl th' bloody cadger, wid him— we'll jist 
step aside and lave them pass. 

[Exit MiMI and RORY behiiul trees L. 

Eh tcr Captain Montagu aud Lanty Kilfoyl l. 

(CaPT. walkx hack aud forth impaliextJ;/. Lah^TY choswy 
after him.) 

(APT. I intend to do what I can for you. If you are 
not satisfied with this i will to-morrow take you to town 
and use my influence with the constabulary, who will, 
doubtless, engage you in their seivice, once they are 
made to understand your efficiency and skill. This, of 
course, will afford you the surest protection that you 
could have, and remain about these parts. You ought 
to be thankful, Lanty, that I should take such an inter- 
est in your welfare. 

Lanty. Musha, thiu may all manners av blissin's 
light on yez ivery day that ye'll be risin'out avyer bed! 
It's a happy man I'll be wid such a befittin' chance, och 



39 

thin, listhen a bit, yer honor. I seen him, an' that's a 
little sacret thrown in free gratis for nuthin', jistbe th' 
way av showin' hjw thankful I am t' yer honor. 

Capt. Him, of whom are you speaking? 

Lanty. Why, himsilf shure, nather ghost nor wraith, 
but jist himsilf. 

Capt. How very definite. 1 suppose himself may 
have a name? 

Lanty. Av coorse, av coorse, yer honor, he do have a 
name, an' its Dan Cassarn. 

Capt. Cassarn, curse him! Where Lanty, where did 
you see him? 

Lanty. Abroad on th' hills. It was a miracle, an' 
nuthin' but it shure. Thinks I that '11 be news for the 
masther, an' he'll be wantin' his humble sarvint, Lanty 
Kilfoyl, in helpin' to get Cassarn down from the hills. 

Capt. {Aside.) It is gold, gold at every turn, but the 
ffirl is worth a king's ransom. 

Lanty. If yer honor '11 just kindly be givin' me a few 
shinin' coins— jist a tew, th' price av a pig. Surely— 
surely ye'll pay me if I give ye tidings of Cassarn. 

Capt. For the love of God, Lanty, if you have tidings 
of Cassarn speak! (Hands gold to hhii.) 

Lanty. Well tliin— at peep o' day I chanced to roam 
nigh Divil's Glin, an' phwat did I see but two ridhers 
approachin', so I jist kindly laid down behind th' rocks 
to lave thim pass, whin, be all th' crosses in th' yard av 
check I swear 't was Cassarn an' O'Nale th' gamekeepei ! 
Musha! yez could av knocked me down wid th' lafe av a 
shamrock! 



40 

Capt. {Impatient} II.) Yes! YesI but where did tliey 
go? 

Lanty. O'Nale came back wid tli' horses, but Cas- 
saro wint ou t' Larry Reilly's still, up in th' very heart 
av th' rocks. 

Capt. I kuow the place I and now I will call out the 
s ildiers, and kill two birds with one stone! 

{Exit Capt. r.) 

(Lanty stands cmuitimj his gold. Enter RORY and MiMI, 
L., nn.p received by LantY. RORY advances and seizes him 
b>i the throat. Lm^TY falls on his l-nees.) 

Lanty. In th' name o' Hivin, take that tight grip 
aff me— och! Howly Biddy!— th' bones are crackin'!— 
aise up a little, jewel, aise up! 

Rory, Whist, there! 'tis you phats the laddie that 
betrayed us, an' sould th' pass 1 knew ; betokens, ye had 
th' bad dhrop in yez always, but it's past me that a man 
culd be so vile. Ye've got mony a brave lad transported 
o: lung, au'yer hand niverseen it at all, make no doubt; 
but since yez so fond ay th' halther for others, it's yer own 
neck that's loikely to be stretched in wan in th' ind. I 
culd crush th' life out av ye where ye stand foninst me 
now, as aisy as ye culd th' loife av a hare, an' because it 
is so aisy, an' ye are so completely in me power, is th' 
raison why I hould me hand. Threacliery! Ye niver 
got it in yer veins from tii' mitlier breast av th' fair 
ould land. 

Lanty. {In. ivh in ing accents.) Murrah! but it's a great 
wrong yer doiu' me intirely. Rory, avick! God kows I 



41 

niver had th* thought or wiyh to work any wau 
harrum. 

RORY. Arrah thin, bad manners t' ye to cast th' dark 
blight across Dan's loife. 

Lanty. Och, tare-au-ages! Yer chokin' me, an' niver 
a morthal man could stand that an' live. 

RORY. Me foine laddy buck I an' ye work for a mas- 
ther that pays, an' th' thrade brought you in foine 
profits, an' ye thought th' sacret would niver come to 
light; but it has, tliank God I an' well it is ye knows the 
fate av all thraitors an' informers, Lanty Kilfoyl. Mimi 
rnn ahead an' tell th' b'ys— rouse up th' county, an' tell 
them who the thraitor is. [£".'•/? Mdii l. 

Come along, ye bloody cadger! it's a little toime ye'll 
have for shrive or prayer I [Exit RoRY icith Lanty l. 

(Scene draws.) 
Scene III. The exterior o/ FATHER Mahone's. 
(Lord DuNRAVEN is sitting on circular seat. SQUIRE 
GaLDARRICK stands center, with MAJOR RALEIGH on his 
riglit, and FATHER MaHONE at his left.) 

Squire. (Spea/ang to Father Mahone.) I knew the 
lad well, and feeling assured that he intended no harm 
in life, I sent to Dublin the day alter his arrest, asking 
them to investigate the Captain's charges— and so they 
sent me as a guest my old friend and classmate, the 
Major— with full power to act. 

Father. Ah I I understand. You intend to throw 
the Captain off his guard. 

Major. Exactly I He is of a fine English family, but 
should the Squire's suspicions prove well grounded, 
justice shall take it's course. 



42 

Lord. Major! I wequest yoii to shoot the wascall 

{All laugh.) 

Major. He will deserve it if he causes an English- 
man to blush. 

Father. Innocent— until proven guilty. 

Major. True, we have no right to jurige a man before 
he's fairly tried, but in these trying timesa soldiers life 
is not a quiet one, he must keep his soul up in arms and 
his wits at his fingers ends. 

Father. Then a soldier's life is not an enviable one. 

Major. Quite the reverse "See, the conquering hero 
comes ^" is an excellent tune ; but the soldier whose 
name riiigs in every ear, and thrills his countrymen 
with pride, does not become a hero liy lofty conception 
alone, but by the patient acquisition of military details. 
Ten thousand tedious trifles to attend to— ten thousand 
orders given and disappointments borne— go to making 
up a triumph. He has to march in the mud, pour over 
crumpled maps, and work vulgar sums after midnight, 
by a flickering lantern, in a gusty tent; while you ore 
snoritig in a feather bed, he sleeps on the ground in 
wet clothes, stung by musquiloes, without a supper, but 
with a headache. He has to witness executions, disarm 
jealousy, swallow chagrin and digest opposition. He 
mu^^t brood with ceasless interest over military problems 
(Miring the piping times of peace, and familiarize him- 
self with every mpuiorable battle and siege of ancient 
and modern times. After a great victory, and not until 
then, will the fire of his life burn up into a national 
triumpli, and the people split their throats wiih the 
name of Washington, Wellington or Xapoleon. 



43 

Father. And while the public voice shouted glory, 
wailiflg was iu her homes. Her temple of victory was 
filled with trophies, and her hearts were made desolate. 

Major. Sadness is the principal fruit which warfare 
musl ever produce. You may talk of glory as long as 
you like, but you cannoi have your laurel without your 
cypress. 

Squire. But Major, fond of war as the soldiers have 
the reputation of being, do they prefer war to peace — 
arn't they flesh and blood like ourselves. 

Ma.jor. Not a bit, you slick and smooth gentlemen 
who live in luxurious peace know little of a soldier's 
dangers or feelings. 

Father, Major we all have our dangers to go 
through, and maybe a priest has as many as a soldier; 
and we only show a difference of taste, after all, in the 
selection. 

Major. Well, Father Mahone, all I know is, that a 
true soldier fears nothing. 

Father. Maybe, faith I have been in places of danger 
a soldier would be glad to get out of. 

Major. You'll pardon me for doubting you. Father 
Mahone. 

Father. Faith, then yoa wouldn't like to be where I 
was within the hour, that is, in a mud cabin, where I 
was giving th' last rites to two people dying of the 
typhus fever. 

Lord. (Springing to his feet.) Typhus! 

Father Ay, typhus sir; most malignant typhus. 

Lord. Gracious! how can you do such a dwedful 
thing as run the risk of bearing infwection into society? 



44 

• 

Major. My Lord your more frightened than hurt.— 

(Shouts of many voices o/f'L, all look in that direction.) 
What are they doing Squire? 

Squire. There is some great excitement among the 
peasantry. 

Father. Yes, they are pursuing some person— see! 
he is heading for the gamekeeper's lodge! 

Squire. The peasants are thoroughly roused, I think 
we had better try and head them off. [ h'xit all quickhj l. 
(Scene opens.) 
Scene IV. GaUlarrick Ustate, Ballinalea. 

(Squire, Lord, Major, Priest and Shaun stand looking 

out at open gatewa;/. Shouts of man y voices offL ) 

Squire. Shaun, stand by the gates, and close them 
when I give the signal. 

(All step to center except SHAUN.) 
Enter LANTY KiLFOYL vnth RORY running after him, 
ihrough gateway L. 

LanTY drops down and clasps the PRIEST'S knees, PRIEST 
raises his hand, RORY stands making excited gestures. 
Lord DUNRAVEN dodges behind tree. 

Squire. Quick Shaun! (Shaun closes and locks gate.) 
Enter PEASANTS from L and stand outside gates, shouting 
and Jiourishing shillalys. 

Lanty. Och! save me!"protect me!— hide me! 

Squire. Rory what is the meaning of all this devil- 
try? 

(A rolling thunder of raps outside gale.) 

Father. ( 7'o Peasants.) Silence! 

RORY. There's th' ould b'y him-^elf t' th' fore! Och! 
Lanty, ye murtherin' bago' bones! (shouting outside gate) 



Ji:nle7- MiMI, Molly and Mrs. O'NEIL fynn tlw lo(h/>' and 
stand unperceived by the others. 

Major. In Her Majesty's name I demand to know the 
cause of this rebellious outbreak !~(C'omp/e<e silence.)— 
Will no one answer. 

MiML (AdvanciiKj.) Yes! — I, Dan- Cassarn's bride, 
will answer ye!~or to my God, that ivery word I spake 
is thrue! Twas yandher cringin' coward (Pointing to 
Lanty) who, for the love av goold, crept through the 
clouds av night to the smithy, an' hid the muskets an' 
pikes where they were found— 'twas the shine av the 
English captain's goold that made him willin' to sell 
both body an' sowl,the goold av the cowardly Montagu, 
who swore he'd run Dan to earth— 'tis thim that are 
guilty not Dan ma bouchleen! 
Lanty. 'Tisaliel 
RORY. D'ye hear that, b'ys? 

(Shouts and pounding upon gates.) 
Father. (Stepping back removes his hat raises his 
hand toicdrd Lanty.) Lanty Kilfoyl, I have already 
spoken to you in the house of worship— once more I 
warn you to beware. Riot and battle are found with 
you, and if you do not speedily reform your course of 
life, 1 shall expel you from the pale of the church, and 
pronounce sentence of excommunication upon you from 
the altar. 

Lanty. (Raising his hands.) Spare me! Spare me! 
Father. If you know aught of Cassarn's innocence, 
speak!— ere an offended God does take your life. 
Lanty. Musha! I'm crapin wid th' chills loike as 



46 • 

if pome wan was wakin' over me grave! B'ys, if I make 
a clean breast av it will yez spare me loife? 

RORY. We will. 

Lanty. Th' Lord's goodness on yez, b'ys!— but it's 
bad commons av yez I' be thratin a helpless crathur 
tlms! I was so poor, so very exceedin'ly poor— an' whin 
Cassarn gave ih' captain th' hard word, an' th' ca^itain 
came an' offered me th' shinin' coins if I'd lave th' 
weapons at Cassarn's, sure I niver saw th* harm in it^ 
An' as I ran in th' balmy night through fields wliere th' 
wild brier caught at me garments, an' Ui' daisy stems 
tangled about me feet, th' fire flies ran wid me as I wint' 
an' I thought how they looked loike goold— an' how 
happy I'd be if ivery thing I touched would turn iato 
it. An' now by's, that's all, wid divil a lie in it! 

Major. The murder is out! 

MlMl. {Kneeling.) Thank God! 

(Music heard cff L.) 

RoRY. 'Tis th' redcoats comin' 'long th' road! 
Major. Throw the gates wide open. 

{^B-AVN opens i/dtes. 'PEASANTS enter and stand in bacJi- 
ground. MA.JOR advances to gateicay and salutes CAPT.^ 

Captain! march your company in liere— 1 have a prisoner 
for you! 

(HJnter CAPTAIN MONTAGU through gatewag, L., and halts) 
near gate as SERGEANT and SOLDIERS enter, ivith Dan 
handcuffed.) 

Captain, Column riglit— march! Column left— march! 
Twos left— march! Company halt! 



47 

MiMI. Dan! Daul {Throwing her anas a?-OMU(/ Dan's 
neck. 

Major. {Painting to Lanty.) Sergeant, secure that 
fellow. (Soldiers secw e Lanty and place him beside Dan. 

Major crosses over to CaPT., ivho stands staring at Lanty. 
Captain Montagu!— your sword. (Capt. starts, then hands 
sword to Major.) Sergeant, place Captain Montagu 
under arrest. 

Capt. {IHs hand fliiing to his sida fur sicord.) Death! 
(Soldiers advance ami place Capt. in ranks.) 

Major. Sergeant release Dan Cassaru. 

Serg. {Saluting.) Major, Dan Cassarn is an escaped 
prisoner! 

Major. Sergeant, I am responsible to my superior 
officer for my acts. {Sergeant releases Dan, Major shakes 
hands with Dan.) Mr. Cassarn, allow me [o congratulate 
y.'U upon your narrow escape from a life in Tasmania 
It is always a pleasure to riglit a wrong, cost what it 
may, justice must take its course though it disgraces a 
countryman of mine, and I must admit I feel the dis- 
grace sorely. I was detailed from Dublin with full 
power to act in this case, the kind hospitality of the 
Squire allayed suspicion, and with his valued assistance 
we all have the satisfaction of seeing justice done you 
Again, Mr. Cassarn, in the name of the government, I 
congratulate you. And now I can see no better way out 
of this difficulty than to withdraw with as good grace as 
possible and relieve you of these unpleasant visitors. 

Dan. Major I appreciate yer kind words, comin^ as 
they do from yer heart. If more av yer counthrymen 



48 

were loike ye Irishmen would niver seek a liome across 
the say. 

Major. Sergeant, march your company out. 

Sergt. [Sahitivii:) Company, attention! Forward 
march! Twos left, march! 
Exit Major, Sergt avd Soldiers loith Capt. and Lanty 

as prisoners through (latei'-ai/ Jj, amidst cheering of PEAS- 
ANTS. 

Squire. (Shakimj hands Kith Dan.) Well Dan, I'm 
afraid my toast on your wedding night was the cause of 
all your misfortune— but the eclipse has passed, leaving 
you safe and sound, and life will seem all the brighter 
for it. And now Rory, what can we do to celebrate the 
occasion? 

Rory. Troth thin, I know— if his riverence is willin'! 

Father. You have my consent, Rory, if you'll prom- 
ise to disown "the omadhaun!" 

Rory. {Lecuhng MOLLY over to priest.) Thin give US 
yer riverence's blessin' an' change Molly's name to Mrs. 
Rory O'Neil. 

Father. Eh? What— 

Squire. That's an elegant idea Rory!— and by the 
wig o' the chief justice, you shall have Greylark Lodge! 
So come now, your reverence, don't spoil the celebration. 

Father. Very well Squire! I'll consent— if Rory 
disowns "the omadhaun!" 

Rory. {Advancing) Faix, an' 'twill be a happy rid- 
dance! I'm disgraced while he lives! {To audience.) An' 
now I call upon yez all t' b^ar witness, that I, Rory 
O'Neil, disown, an' cut off wid out a shillin' that vaga- 
bone called "The Omadhaun!" 



CURTAIN. 



CliaracteTs at Fall of Curtain. 



Peasants. 



Molly. Rory. Mimi. 
Priest. Dan. 

Lord. Mrs. O'N. 

Squire. Shauu. 



LIBRARY OF 



016 102 459 4 ^ 



